. . .because Morris, Minnesota, is a pleasant, quiet, safe yet intellectually stimulating place on the west central Minnesota prairie, home of the U of M-Morris and a whole lot of interesting people. - morris mn

"You'll never get ahead if you don't take care of what you have." - Doris Waddell, RIP

A historic building on our U of M-Morris campus - morris mn

The multi-ethnic building was the original home of the music department at UMM. (B.W. photo)

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Are DWI laws misplaced with their message?

Have your seen those PSAs
that warn about the very severe penalties for DWI? They warn that
"buzzed driving is drunk driving." In other words, the hammer of our law
enforcement will come down on you if you've simply had "one too many,"
as the old saying goes.

The PSA on TV shows typical young adults in a lively party scene. I find these PSAs so uncomfortable to watch, I have to sometimes switch channels. The PSAs
warn that a DWI will cost you an astronomical amount of money (to use
terminology associated with the late Willie Martin). Up to $20,000? That's what we hear. I suppose all this money goes to fuel our law
enforcement/legal system. How convenient. Same as those seat built fines
which I recall started out at $40 and are now over $100. Oh, but we all
need to promote absolutely safe driving, right?
What explains my
discomfort at the reminder of such harsh penalties? Surely we can't turn
a blind eye to impaired drivers, can we? Surely we can't turn a blind
eye to people not bothering with their seat belts, can we?
A little
age perspective comes into play here. I am 61 years old. I remember the
generation of my parents, the so-called greatest generation, being quite
fond of frivolous weekend behavior, going to someplace like the VFW, or
attending a Shriners
or Legion convention, or going somewhere on New Year's Eve and becoming
stumbling drunk. My own parents did nothing like that. But I observed
plenty of that behavior. I was familiar with families where such
behavior became a family issue and caused sadness, particularly with the
kids.
Maybe we gave a pass to the World War II generation, allowing
them to pursue their diversions as a means of overcoming the anxiety
they felt earlier in their lives. Weren't GIs given free cigarettes in World War II?
There's
more to the background I'm offering: The drinking age was lowered just
as I graduated from high school in 1973. It was lowered so we could have
the privilege of consuming alcohol, based on how young men were being
forced to fight and die in Viet
Nam. If young men were being tasked with this hellish proposition,
their peers should be allowed to behave fully like adults, it was
argued. My generation invaded the bars.
Of course, this notion of
drinking being equated with maturity came from the alcoholic beverages
industry with its incessant commercials. Guys my age grew up watching
football on TV with constant beer commercials. Is this still the case? I
hardly watch football anymore.
Beer
commercials had such a light air. They suggested that beer was to be
equated with a carefree feeling about life, as if their product might
liberate us in some way. Kick back, watch football and make sure plenty of beer was in the refrigerator.
When
young people engage in the typical lively party behavior, are they
following their own organic impulses, from within their own generation,
or are they reflecting a long and ignoble legacy that has been passed
down? I would suggest the latter. We can conclude that we as a society
bear the burden of the consequences of excessive party behavior. Young
people are taking cues. They see alcohol and drugs as a liberating sort
of thing that signals adulthood, something to relish.
We see this quintessential party behavior in those PSAs
that warn us about drunk (or "buzzed") driving. And then we're told
that your life will become hell - you'll lose everything - if you drive
having had "one too many." Of course, it's highly subjective to
determine what constitutes "one too many." There has been debate about
whether that line should be made more stringent. Maybe you could get
nailed if you had just one beer with your pizza some evening. The law
could wipe out all social drinking. I don't know about that. Is the
purpose really to promote optimally safe driving, or is it to
simply punish a form of behavior that our society now looks down on? The
latter would be perverse.
But we want optimal safety, right? In an
ideal world, right? But alcohol is just one form of impairment. It is
sad if anyone gets hurt because of someone having done a minimal amount
of social drinking. But what about sleep-deprived drivers? What about
drivers who might be on a certain type of medication? And on a broader
scale, what about all those senior drivers, drivers over the age of 80
for example, whose reflexes aren't close to being what they once were?
Shall we clamp down on all these categories of drivers?
If seniors
were to be forced off the road, their middle-age children would all
scream about how their parents ought not be deprived of their
independence. Our population is aging. If elderly people lose their
driving privileges, we'll have to pay more in taxes, which we'll do
anyway, to assist these people in their more limited lifestyles.
We
start taking risks when we get out of bed in the morning. These
draconian punishments for DWI offenses seem out of proportion. Extreme
offenses must be handled like the truly problematic things they are. As
for "buzzed driving," let's cool it a little. This obsession to punish,
as with people not wearing seat belts, has developed a life of its own.
Back
when seat belt laws were before the states, surveys showed that people
overwhelmingly wanted this to be treated as a secondary offense. What
happened to that plurality? You should know that our Morris Police
Department still treats seat belt as a primary offense, so be careful.
And if I go to Pizza Hut to have a pizza, I will definitely order a
Pepsi now.
It's odd that the first time I was
pulled over for seat belt, I got a ticket, and the second time I got a
warning, just recently. The officer the second time was far more
friendly than the first time. That helped a lot. The first time, I went
through great duress trying to pay the fine, which I eventually found
out (through an employee at the court administrator's office) was due to
a clerical error at the Morris Police Department. So, I don't have warm
and fuzzy feelings about the Morris Police. The police chief needs to
lose some weight. Law enforcement doesn't give me a sense of peace.
I'm an old acquaintance of the person who was the long-time person of interest in the Jacob Wetterling case, Daniel Rassier.
That guy was totally railroaded. Please realize that defense attorneys
play a very important role in our legal system and our very way of life.
Government overreach is always out there as a many-headed hydra.
Government (i.e. law enforcement) is made up of human beings who are
always trying to impress their own importance.
Take care. Skip the booze. Live your life as if alcohol and cigarettes don't exist. You'll be happier.
The law has been slow to catch up with distracted driving.

Summer scenes around Morris, 2012

Click on the image to view a Flickr album of photos taken around the Morris area in the warm weather months of 2012. This group includes photos taken at the 2012 UMM graduation. The image above taken near Perkins Lake was chosen for display in the "Minnesota Explorers" Flickr gallery which is linked to Rick Kupchella's "Bring Me the News" MN website. Also chosen was a field of sunflowers photo I took. I'm delighted to have such platforms available. - B.W.

Past MACA Tiger football photos:

City of Morris perspective:

Pin it on your chest!

Click on the above image to access our "City Data" page.

Morris Theater - morris mn

Click on this image to read thoughts/reflections on our Morris Theater, which is hanging on through changing times (as a co-op). There is a link at the bottom of this post to read part 2 as well. These posts were written in spring of 2010 so there are some dated references. Any Morris native can spin some fond recollections of enjoying cinema fare there with friends.

Enjoy some fall scenery around Morris:

Enjoy some winter scenes around Morris:

Sam Smith statue - morris mn

Click on the image to read about the Sam Smith "running rifleman" statue at Summit Cemetery. This post explores the life of Samuel Smith, early Morris resident. He fought for the Union cause in several major engagements in the Civil War. The statue is patterned after the statue for the First Minnesota Regiment at Gettysburg National Park. This post is the newest of three that I have written about Sam Smith. I consider it the most comprehensive about the man. The statue can be an overlooked landmark of Morris MN. Everyone here ought to be familiar with it. Smith raised a large family north of Morris.

The first building here

In 1871 the first building erected within the village of Morris was the headquarters of the chief engineer of the railroad, C.H.F. Morris. With the railroad came the people.

The WCROC overlook

A nice view to the west is afforded from the WCROC overlook. It's a relatively new feature of the WCROC grounds. Specifically it's part of the WCROC Horticulture Garden. Click on the image to reach the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) website. Les Lindor was instrumental in making the overlook a reality. He served the West Central Experiment Station (the entity predating the WCROC) as ag engineer.

Stay informed about Stevens County MN:

Morris' music mecca:

Words to live by

This original and popular sign can be seen from the highway between Morris and Cyrus. It's associated with the late Dan Helberg. There used to be a sculpture next to it but perhaps it was removed due to legal restrictions (i.e. as a distraction). The sign has the thumbs-up for which we are grateful. Let's always heed these words.

Some spring/summer photo scenes:

The bike trail system

Call it both a walking and bicycling trail. It snakes along both the east and west sides of our Pomme de Terre River. You can do a complete lap which reportedly measures 4 1/2 miles. It's a fitness challenge for those willing to push their bodies a little! This photo was taken on the east side of the river, heading toward Lake Crissey (a wide spot on the river). Spring is a great time to get out there.

Our area's history:

Remembering "ag school"

From the time it accepted its first class in 1910, until it graduated its final class of seniors in 1963, over 7,000 students attended the West Central School of Agriculture. The precursor of the U of M-Morris, it opened its doors to its first class of 103 students in October of 1910.

Wildflowers out by the river

Click on this image to reach the "Minnesota wildflowers" website. This photo was taken on the west side of our Pomme de Terre River.

Before the current library

In 1921 the Stevens County Memorial Armory was built on the 100 block of East 6th Street, the site which is now occupied by the Morris Public Library.1969 saw the opening of the new Morris Public Library on the site of the old armory, leaving vacant the Carnegie building. The Historical Society found a new home in the Carnegie building in 1970.

A suggested restaurant

About Me

Brian Williams is a former writer in the Morris "dead tree" media who plies his pastime in the wonderful, liberating new media today. He refuses to consider himself an alternative journalist because the web is now the mainstream. Newspapers are in rapid retreat and it won't be long before they will exist in vestigial form only. Print media will not die because as a media observer put it: "We will always have print media for as long as there's a 'print' button on your computer." A once weekly newspaper (like in Morris) won't cut it. It's not consistent with our instant gratification culture. But the media are blossoming more than ever thanks to all the new tools. It's an uplifting, "green" new universe. Key word suggestions: morris mn - hancock mn - donnelly mn - cyrus mn - chokio mn - alberta mn - 56267 - stevens county - morris theater mn - morris area tigers - hancock owls.

Buy a car:

Pomme de Terre or Perkins?

Most maps identify it as "Perkins Lake" but it's known as Pomme de Terre to many local residents. The sign at the entry to the lake access uses the Pomme de Terre term, so that seems legitimate. This lake is part of a chain that represent wide spots on the Pomme de Terre River. Pomme de Terre Lake is useful for recreation and fishing, plus there are many fine residences along the shoreline. The chain is located several miles north of Morris.

A Destiny Driver. . .

"I Love Morris" is consistent with one of the "destiny drivers" as articulated by Stevens Forward! (named for Stevens County): "By 2010 we will enhance our interconnectedness by better utilizing the technology infrastructure to create a virtual community." (2010 is already here but this is always a "work in progress!")

We're the "Storm" in hockey

Click on this image to reach the official website of the Morris Benson Area "Storm" hockey program. Of course it's "MBA" for short. In Morris these teams play at the Lee Community Center, next to the fairgrounds.

B.W.'s country music memories, 1996-97:

Your Congressman:

Maintain perspective:

Main street of Morris mn

Atlantic Avenue is the main street of Morris and it's typically abuzz. Click on the above image to reach the Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission website.

Gager's Station

The first stopping place in Stevens County was Gager's Station, considered by some historians to be one of the more important stopping plces on the Wadsworth Trail. The station was nestled among the trees near Wintermute Lake.

VIDEO CLIPS

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The Eagles huddle

Blue is the color of the Morris amateur baseball team which goes by the nickname "Eagles." They're pictured about to break a pre-game huddle at their home: Chizek Field, named for the late Don Chizek who coached the Morris High Tigers for many years. The Tigers now have their own veteran coach in Lyle Rambow. Lyle had a successful playing career with the Eagles.

RIP jazz band leaders:

Best dog you could own:

"Dog is my co-pilot":

Superb early-morning TV:

Wind turbines - morris mn

There are two grand wind turbines such as this one on the eastern edge of Morris. It appears glistening white in this photo but they often are dark, silhouetted against the bright sky. A photographer never tires of them. They have become sustainable symbols of the community.

A trail of long ago here

The Wadsworth Trail was established by the U.S. Government in 1864 to transport supplies from St. Cloud to Fort Wadsworth, west of present day Sisseton, South Dakota.

No longer just a comedian:

She's upstaging Jim Klobuchar now:

Visit our McDonald's

It's a hotspot for dependable fast food and, just as important, socializing: our McDonald's Restaurant on the north end of Atlantic Avenue.

Our park in west Morris

Wells Park, located near Pacific Avenue and West 11th Street, was established in 1916 on land donated to the city by Henry Wells (a successful businessman and land investor) and Margaret Hulburd. Additional land was donated in 1935 by the Wells Investment Company, and in 1980 by Grace Zamerow.